801 West Georgia Street - Crowne Plaza Hotel

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: May 24, 2002
Author/Local:Guy Gusdal/ 604.871.6461

RTS No. 2319

CC File No. 2612-21

P&E: June 13, 2002

TO:

Standing Committee on Planning and Environment

FROM:

Chief License Inspector

SUBJECT:

801 West Georgia Street - Crowne Plaza Hotel Georgia
(Two Class `A' Lounges Operated under Third Party Lease Agreements) - Change in Hours of Operation - Friday and Saturday

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council, having considered the proximity of residential developments, traffic patterns, road access, availability of parking, noise impacts and overall design, endorse the application by Georgia Place Ltd., for a change in hours of operation in two Class `A' Lounges (liquor license 171398 - Element Sound Lounge, operated under a Third Party Agreement by Element Sound Lounge Ltd., and liquor license 138984 - Georgia Street Bar & Grill operated under a Third Party Agreement by Leeds Enterprises Ltd., ) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Georgia, 801 West Georgia Street subject to:

i. The hours of operation limited to Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., Friday and Saturday, 12:00 noon to 2:00 a.m. and Sunday, 12:00 noon to 12:00 midnight.

ii. The signing of a Good Neighbour Agreement.

iii. Legal Agreement to provide for a rollback of existing hours of operation should problems arise from the amendments to the liquor license.

iv. Adherence to clean air practices.

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.

COUNCIL POLICY

Council policy is to waive the requirement for a neighbourhood notification for minor amendments to existing lounge liquor licenses in full service hotels located in the downtown core.

PURPOSE

Georgia Place Ltd., is requesting a Council resolution endorsing its application for a change in operating hours on Friday and Saturday in two Class `A' Lounges -- Element Sound Lounge (operated under a Third Party Agreement by Element Sound Lounge Ltd., liquor license 171398) and the Georgia Street Bar and Grill (operated under a Third Party Agreement by Leeds Enterprises Ltd., liquor license 138984) -- at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Georgia, 801 W. Georgia Street.

BACKGROUND

The hotel is licensed for three Class `A' Lounges, one being a 40-seat lobby lounge and the other two the 139-seat Element Sound Lounge, located below grade, and the 206-seat with 20 seat patio Georgia Street Bar & Grill, located at street level.

The hotel has Third Party Agreements with Element Sound Lounge Ltd., who operate the 139-seat Element Sound Lounge (liquor license #171398) and Leeds Enterprises Ltd., who operate the 206 with 20 seat patio Georgia Street Bar and Grill (liquor license #138984). The applicants are requesting an amendment to the liquor licenses to allow a later closing time on Friday and Saturday nights in these lounges in response to requests from hotel guests and the general public.

The current hours of operation are Monday to Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight on Sunday. The requested hours of operation are Monday to Thursday 11:30 to 1:30 a.m., Friday and Saturday 12:00 noon to 2:00 a.m. and Sunday 12:00 noon to 12:00 midnight.

Class `A' Lounge (Hotel) Regulations and Policies

The application for a change in hours meets all Liquor Control and Licensing Branch policies.

Area Surrounding Subject Premises

The subject premises are located in the DD Downtown zoning district. The surrounding area is a mixture of retail, office and hotels (refer to the appendix). Other than the hotel, there are no residential uses in close proximity to this site.

DISCUSSION

Policy Issues

There are no policy issues related to this application.

Benefits of Proposal

In general it has been found that lounges in fully integrated hotels in the downtown core do not generate policing or other community issues. There are two primary reasons for this: i) the lack of residential uses in close proximity to most full service hotels and ii) most hotel designs and Third Party Lease Agreements provide for a high degree of self-policing by hotel management.

Negatives of Proposal

The approval of the 2:00 a.m. closing on Friday and Saturday nights will further homogenize the closing times of liquor establishments in the downtown core. As a result, there may be an increase in demand for police resources during the peak period between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m., whereas the present closing time helps to stagger this demand.

RESULTS OF NOTIFICATION

No neighbourhood notification was conducted in view of the fact that Council policy exempts an application for a minor amendment to a liquor license for hotels and other major complexes in the downtown core.

COMMENTS

The Police Department does not oppose the application as it is a relatively small change in operating hours. However, it should be noted that this is an increase in access to liquor and the department has concerns about police resources to deal with these increases.

The Development Services Department has reviewed the application and notes the site is located within the Downtown District (DD) - Sub area A, and the building designated as Heritage `B'. It is currently approved for hotel use, and lounges are considered to be an ancillary use. Based on the information provided, the department has no additional comments or concerns.

The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority - Environmental Health Services has no comments.

The Social Planning Department and Housing Centre have no comments.

CONCLUSION

Given the general nature of lounge operations in major hotels, staff is recommending Council endorse the application.

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TO:	Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
FROM:	Chief License Inspector
SUBJECT:	801 West Georgia Street - Crowne Plaza Hotel Georgia (Two Class `A' Lounges Operated under Third Party Lease Agreements) - Change in Hours of Operation - Friday and Saturday